Latest innovations and products in the building fabric section of the construction industry.

Cold-roll renaissance

Technical Editor Bruce Meechan visits Britain’s traditional ‘metal-bashing’ heartland to discover how one company is giving steel framing a very modern ring.

Having paid a brief visit to Metsec’s stand at the Offsite exhibition prior to Christmas, I accepted an invitation from the company’s Marketing and Business Development Director to visit the premises at Oldbury in the Midlands: to find out more about its divisions which embrace dry-lining systems and cable management systems as well as high performance purlins and light gauge steel framing for all types of building structure.

Despite the company’s strong performance over recent years – defying the downturn in construction after the financial crisis – Richard Allen still sees two rather illogical barriers to even better growth figures, which he is trying to address.

The first came to light during a series of focus group meetings involving industry professionals. These revealed that the name ‘Metsec’ is commonly used in construction as a verb or generic term – including by some people who didn’t know the manufacturer actually existed.

The second, though, could be easier to understand, given the construction trade’s notorious reluctance to adopt new practices: even when there are many good reasons for doing so. Richard reflected: “Despite the potential for steel framing to save them time, cost and hassle, some people still perceive there is a risk to using a non-standard method of construction. Their reluctance to adopt modern methods of working – normally by reverting to in-situ concrete – means they are missing out on the cost and programme savings which could be afforded to them. The lightness of the Metframe system can allow you to employ shallower foundations as well as offering great acoustic, thermal and fire performance. And overall you can just build that much faster than with a reinforced concrete frame.”

So how does the Metsec offering deliver these many benefits? “When you look at the products that we sell,” Richard explained, “in essence there is nothing that complicated about them. Our Metframe system for instance features cold-roll formed C and U-sections; the complexity comes in understanding how they work together to create a 12-storey structure.

“It is very much in our design capabilities that we add value for our customers, and why Metsec has come to be regarded as a thought leader within the sector. We have some very clever engineers using the latest design software: including TEKLA and Revit.”

Responding to the industry’s bilateral use of UK and European standards, Metsec’s software allows projects to be designed in line with either the British Standard or Eurocode. Its range is also CE marked to Level 4.

He continued: “When it comes to our purlins systems we aim to make the structural engineer’s life easier, offering them free software for designing the different systems. For instance inputting the building’s location will automatically take account of typical snow load and wind loading for the area. Then given the building’s dimensions it will calculate the most efficient purlin design, using the optimum amount of steel.

“Then for the fabricators, they want something which is easy to erect; where the logistics are in line with the build programme. Because we operate on a very short lead time, we can adjust delivery dates to match any problems they might have with the weather or variations from the client.

“It is design expertise which enables us to carry out all of our contracts in such a way that we can create cost savings for our customers. Take for example Smithfield in Manchester – our ability to map out the full elevations to the building for the client, and seeking ways to value engineer the design meant we were able to remove a considerable amount of hot rolled steel – offering Galliford Try real cost savings. Elsewhere our lightweight steel framing systems have had a lot of success using our infill walling system with student accommodation as well as a number of social housing projects: and we are keen to do more.”

Across all of its different divisions, Metsec’s interaction with consultants and clients is led by its specification sales teams, all of which – with the exception of dry-lining – are split up regionally.

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Building Transformation: School Urban Transformer Grants

This summer, we’re offering three Secondary or Upper schools the opportunity to take up one of our sensational School Urban Transformer Grants. In each week-long program in the summer holidays, Building Transformation will provide the tools, training and expert knowledge to transform your school environment with founding partner Reece Wood and his expert colleagues.

The program, for six enthusiastic students, will offer a fun, skill-building opportunity to engage with, develop and improve their school’s space, as well as offering the following skills:

  • Environmental evaluation
  • Developing a plan of action
  • Selecting and meeting deadlines
  • Performing risk assessments
  • Analysing and understanding safety checks and construction plans
  • Taking instructions from supervising experts
  • Working as a team to produce agreed results

All these skills and more will be developed by the staff of Building Transformation, at no cost to the participating schools. All safety equipment and materials will also be provided by Building Transformation.

“When I pick my own kids up from school, it’s obvious that the classes enjoy activities most in those well-maintained, well cared-for areas; I can see how the school environment has a direct affect on their engagement with it. Any external building fabric plays a big part in influencing the emotions and even behaviour of the building users: a school landscape should be positive, feel safe and reflect the school’s culture and values, as a space that inspires students and teachers and makes them proud.

“However, maintenance issues can be costly, and low on the list of concerns as more pressing items taking priority; problems are often allowed to build and impact the school’s environments, negatively influencing students’ feelings about their school over time. This can result in an imbalance between the core values of a school, and its physical appearance. The problem isn’t down to people not caring, but rather that both budgets and time are limited.

“Yet the simple solutions that make a real difference to the quality of a school environment shouldn’t be expensive or difficult to access. Algae, carbon, environmental pollution, chewing gum & graffiti, are all easily removed with the correct equipment and approach. This year we aim to give the know-how and control back to schools and students, to help create school environments of the future. The School Urban Transformer Grant is our way of making a difference in our own communities.

“We want to create a fun programme, that builds the students’ skills, values and education, plus uses their enthusiasm and energy to give something back to the school environment that has helped shape their future, at no expense to the school. And by developing and completing the process with the students, they’ll take ownership of their space, feeling more protective, and viewing it with a new set of eyes.

I’d love to hear your thoughts — please get in touch, and I can answer any questions you might have.”

What is the purpose behind the School Urban Transformer program?

“To work with three schools for one week each, to help them create a more inspiring, valued and more sustainable environment that they are proud of and is in line with their standards of performance; to breathe new life into the tired or challenging-to-manage school environment; and to give the knowhow, pride and ownership back to the students, and back to the school. We want students and schools to feel that the cleaned and restored environment is a closer reflection of their values, ethos and vision.

“The grant includes one week’s Urban Transformation program within your school, as well as one day’s initial planning and development three to four weeks prior, working with your chosen students and your school’s maintenance staff.”

Why is Building Transformation doing this?

“We’re constantly thinking how we canwhat make real difference, both to environments and people, by bringing to life the real purpose of our business with our skills and assets. Having been asked to provide solutions to schools over the past few years, having looked at the varying condition of school environments, listened to the issues around budgets and maintenance limitations, pressures, priorities and how all of this impacts on the school, we believe that we can give schools the knowhow and solutions they need to create an environment and space that fits with their ethos and vision for the future.

“It’s important to us to help create communities of people that take ownership and pride in their environment.”

Who is Building Transformation?

“We’re an international building façade maintenance and consultancy service, working with major industry and education institutions across the UK and abroad, with over 15 years’ expertise in design, environmental sustainability and building regeneration.”

What do the schools need to do?

“Complete the application form by 17th June. The chosen schools will need to select six Y12 students who have the enthusiasm and energy to take part in the program for a week during the summer holidays, and who will be eager to learn new skills and develop their CVs and UCAS applications while also protecting their school environment for the future.”

For more information please visit www.buildingtransformation.co.uk/schools, email schools@buildingtransformation.co.uk or phone 01234 964 019.
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Small and Mighty – GEZE UK Launches a Tiny Powerhouse

It may be small but it packs a punch! The launch of GEZE’s new sliding door system is a real David and Goliath affair. The Levolan 120 belies its modest appearance – the slimline fitting can effortlessly move internal doors of up to 120kg with elegant ease.

It has twice the load-bearing capacity of its “little brother”, the Levolan 60 which won the Plus X Award and was named the Best Product of 2014, in its category.

The Levolan 120 shares its discreet aesthetic: with straight lines and modular composition, it’s a system which is highly adaptable. Its sleek track, which is only 50mm high, includes integrated derailing protection and can be conveniently installed from the front.

This means that large panelled sliding doors – made from glass, wood, metal or plastic – which have interior design impact and a real “wow factor” can be put in place in the knowledge that their practical application can be effectively managed.

Additional safety is provided by the Levolan 120 SoftStop draw-in damping device which can be incorporated into the track as an option. The sliding door leaves are gently guided into their end position with little possibility of anything hitting the frame or risk of fingers being trapped.

The system has specially designed roller carriers which ensure outstanding load distribution enabling the leaves to move easily and almost silently. Its derailing protection is triggered automatically when the height of the door leaf is adjusted, ensuring that the best possible level of opening and closing is provided.

The clamping roller carriage is designed for glass thickness of 10 – 12.76mm which allows the Levolan 120 to be installed with door leaves made of laminated safety glass.

Its compact dimensions make is extremely versatile meaning it can be installed on a wall, suspended from a ceiling or glass fanlight or invisibly mounted within a ceiling.

The Levolan Smart fix installation system makes fitting fast and straightforward – just one Allen key and one open-ended spanner are needed to set the height of the cam – and the leaf and roller carriage can be mounted on the track and calibrated from the front.

Due to its modular composition, the Levolan 120 can be provided as ready-made sets configured to the customer’s needs or as individual parts.

The modular construction of the Levolan system also means that the parts for the Levolan 120 and the Levolan 60 are interchangeable – reducing the number of parts required for installing sliding door leaves of different weights and sizes.

Andy Howland, sales director of GEZE UK said the Levolan 120 was a “tiny powerhouse” capable of moving large sliding doors “easily and effortlessly”

“This Levolan 120 is an evolution to our existing award-winning interior sliding door system, with a phenomenal load movement capacity, modest in size and near silent in operation. We are confident that this product will be the ideal solution to large door leaf requirements which are currently very popular within contemporary interior design schemes.”

For more information about the Levolan 120 and GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of automatic and manual door closers call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk.
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Introducing the New Bond

Acting on intelligence out in the field, undercover fixing specialist Ancon has launched a new super-Bond, ultra-low thermal conductivity wall tie that even SPECTRE would find hard to crack!

Based on the company’s multi-award winning TeploTie with a conductivity of 00.7W/mK which virtually eliminates heat loss through thermal bridging in cavity wall construction, the new Teplo-BF basalt fibre wall tie features specially moulded safety ends that improve buildability and enhance mortar bond strength by up to 80%.

The new user-friendly design has exceptional mortar grabbing capability, making Teplo-BF particularly suitable for use with lime and other slow-drying mortars.

The Teplo-BF, like the original TeploTie which was introduced into the UK and Ireland by Ancon in 2010 and since used on a number of ground-breaking PassivHaus and Zero-Carbon buildings, is created by the setting of innovative pultruded basalt fibres in a resin matrix. This composite material provides a combination of high strength and outstanding thermal efficiency.

The ultra-low thermal conductivity, twenty times below that of stainless steel, means that Teplo-BF ties are excluded from U-value calculations to BS EN ISO 6946, helping to minimise insulation and wall thickness, a particular benefit in modern low-energy construction applications.

Available in the same wide range of lengths and types as the original TeploTie, the new Teplo-BF wall tie is suitable for cavities up to 450mm wide and buildings up to 18 metres in height, and carry BBA and NHBC technical approvals.

Ancon Marketing Manager, Annabelle Wilson, said “Following discussions with building contractors, Ancon identified a need for a more user-friendly design, offering a more robust bond that is better suited to the general site environment, and greater versatility in the choice of mortars with which Teplo ties can be used. The new Teplo-BF not only meets these requirements but the new moulded ends make these ties safer for bricklayers to work around too.”

“This range extension provides the market with three distinct Teplo options – the original TeploTie for new-build applications and resin-fixing into an existing structure during retrofit, the Teplo-L-Tie for surface fixing to an in-situ structural frame, and the Teplo-BF, an improved new-build cavity wall tie with high bond strength even in slow-drying mortars and moulded safety ends. Ancon’s comprehensive wall tie range includes a low thermal conductivity fixing for almost any masonry construction project.”

For more information please visit www.ancon.co.uk/products/wall-ties-restraint-fixings.

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“Selly Oak students get bronze!”

Birmingham University scholars, lucky enough to have student accommodation at the new Athena Sudios, Bristol Road, Selly Oak, have top quality bronze anodized, composite windows, with dark Anthracite Oak veneers internally, in every room – which sets them apart from ordinary accommodation.

Uniform Architectural Ltd is pleased to have supplied the latest, Italian designed uni_one® range of composite windows and doors, to Torsion Group Ltd, major building contractors.

As can be seen on this impressive development, Uni_one composite windows are ‘raising the bar’ by having introduced to UK, a new higher standard of excellence, in terms of quality, innovation, design originality and reliability – plus, many exclusive and valuable features:

  • Welded aluminium corner joints – simply NO joint to see, or to deteriorate.
  • Car windscreen glazing system – structurally bonded, factory glazed sashes for ultimate weather protection and strength.
  • Thermal and acoustic excellence – Triple glazing, 0.8 U values and Rw 50+ dB sound reduction.
  • Narrow sight-lines and flush exterior of the uni_one Executive™ outward opening casement windows and doors – including Fully Reversible – and ‘Parallel’ opening, pushing straight out.
  • Maximum performance and widest range – uni_one Standard™ tilt & turn system, double and triple glazed.
  • Lift & Slide patio units – up to 3 metres wide per door, ultra-smooth, finger-tip light operation.
  • Widest range of finishes in UK.
  • Internally, 12 beautiful and hard wearing timber shades and pastel colours.
  • Externally, Bronze or Aluminium, natural or anodised, any RAL colour & texture.
  • Fully concealed for maximum elegance – Hinges, drainage, trickle vents and handles.
  • Spandrel panels – externally deglaze-able for inspection behind, or if damaged.

Despite the many advantages above, all schemes are tendered for and won against fierce competition in the Design and Build market.

For further information, brochures or a quotation please visit www.uniform-arch.co.uk or email us at enquiries@uniform-arch.co.uk or call 01275 217227.
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Decorative casing – in a class of their own

If it wasn’t for column casings and interior wall lining solutions, building interiors would be considerably less attractive environments, which is as true for academies, schools and universities, as it is for the commercial or retail sectors.

Yet, as they are usually designed to integrate as part of the fabric of an educational building, their importance can often be overlooked or taken for granted by the building’s occupants.

Very few people stand back to admire a laminated plywood column casing at a school or brushed stainless steel wall cladding in a new university, yet they are key elements in interior design and integral to the aesthetics of the learning environment.

For column casings, at least, their role has been transformed from being a purely functional device for concealing structural steelwork to one of visual and decorative importance. While initially used by a relatively small number of architects in the mid 1980s, column casings are now commonplace, with their aesthetic values and appeal being a key consideration alongside size and material during the specification process.

The demand for wider choice and increased aesthetics from architects, educational design teams and specifiers have been key influences on Peterborough based casing and interior cladding company, Encasement, whose range has continually expanded and diversified during the past ten years to become the most comprehensive available in the UK.

Alongside the company’s six individual ranges of column casings, its ‘Vecta’ system provides a high quality solution for interior wall linings, bulkheads and reveals. Launched just a few years ago, the system has been used in a diverse range of key retail and commercial projects with Tesco and Prêt a Manger, as well as its extensive use for a new extension at South Bank University, London.

While Vecta has already gathered significant momentum, it is for column casings that Encasement is perhaps best known. The company’s extensive range not only includes pre-formed plywood and glass reinforced gypsum (GRG), as well as a specialised fire resistant solution for use with mezzanine floors, but also aluminium, stainless steel and glass reinforced polymer (GRP) casings for use on exterior applications due to their inherent weather resistance.

Interestingly, Encasement’s ‘Forma’ metal casings and ‘Polyma’ GRP range are also widely used in educational building interiors, where the wide selection of finishes coupled with their durability, make them an ideal solution. In particular, the Forma range provides specifiers with an even greater scope of options and can be specified with diameters from 250mm up to 1000mm or as square, rectangular or even hexagonal forms.

Recent projects, such as Winchester College, Birmingham University Dental School, University College London, Farnborough Sixth Form College, Shenley School and Liverpool University’s Donnan Laboratories have all exploited the practical and decorative properties of Encasement’s ‘Forma’ metal casings, as well as its ‘Circa’ and ‘Quadra’ products manufacturer from pre-formed plywood.

Alongside Forma, the Circa’ and Quadra ranges were the first to be launched by the company and are still arguably the most popular, as they provide specifiers and contractors with an unrivalled selection of finishes, which includes plain, laminated or real wood veneers.

In addition, as Encasement is the UK’s only supplier and manufacturer of pre-formed plywood pipe boxing and decorative casing products that holds an FSC® ‘Chain of Custody Certification’ from the Forest Stewardship Council, both Circa and Quadra are manufactured from FSC® certified plywood. This makes them compliant with sustainability codes and environmental procurement policies, which is key consideration on educational building projects.

Designed solely for interior decorative applications, Circa and Quadra casings are used in an extremely diverse range of projects beyond the education sector, which underlines their versatility, ease of specification and the immense range of decorative finishes available to complement or contrast with a building’s interior design scheme.

While Circa and Quadra are available from Encasement as a plain casings for on site painting and decoration, by far the most popular casings are those finished with decorative laminates, which not only resist damage, scuffs and scratches, but also provides the specifier with a diverse palette of finishes from plain colours, wood grain and metallic, as well as textured and real wood veneers, to name but a few.

The choice of sizes available is also wide, allowing specifiers to choose not only circular and square shapes, but also extended circles and rectangular profiles, which use additional infill panels to give greater design flexibility while ensuring they are still easy to install.

Encasement’s Managing Director, Martin Taylor, commented: “Column casing provide a perfect mix of practicality and aesthetics, which are essential considerations for all educational buildings, whether they’re schools, colleges or universities. We’ve taken a lot of care to ensure our range meets both of these key criteria while ensuring that we always remain competitive and deliver high quality products, which are probably key factors behind why we have undertaken so many projects in this sector.”

“The Vecta interior cladding system enhances our educational building interiors offer and allows specifiers to source a range of specialised interior finish products from a single company with high levels of expertise and experience in this sector. We also have our own contracting arm, which enables us to offer a full supply and install service to support contractors.”

Encasement’s latest ‘column casing solutions’ e-brochure is available for download from the company’s website and covers every product in the range as well as providing details on materials, sizes and finishes available alongside an extensive technical information section.

Further information is also available from their website at www.encasement.co.uk or by calling 01733 266889.

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Optima from Profile 22: Future-proof high performance windows

Months of rumours and speculation are now at an end as Profile 22 launches not one but two of the industry’s most eagerly awaited window and door systems. Hailed as the biggest new product introduction in the window industry for a decade, Profile 22 has unveiled Optima, developed to be the most advanced products of their type available in the UK today.

Developed specifically with commercial sectors in mind, and backed by the Profile 22 Approved Window Contractors scheme, Optima offers a compelling choice for the professional specifier. Behind this launch is a radical rethink of each of the key processes in the production of a window and door system for the 21st Century: extrusion processes that ensure superb quality and consistency whilst protecting the environment through reduced energy and ecological impact and products that easily satisfy current technical and aesthetic demands by anticipating those of many years ahead.

The two product streams are characterised by the Optima Chamfered System and the Optima Sculptured System, from which a large number of options are available including a brand new Flush Casement to compete in the burgeoning ‘heritage’ flush sash timber replacement sector.

In basis the systems offer a 6 chamber outer frame (up to 8 with RCM inserts) and a 5 chamber sash (6 with RCM), structures that provide optimal thermal performance and rigidity with the capability of U values as low as 0.8 W/m2K with appropriate Argon filled IGUs. Around these basic structures will be the widest range of ancillaries and add-ons of any system on the market to allow the production of windows in every style, for every property type. Important niche products such as a fully reversible window; a vertical sliding sash; flush tilt & turn; a flush casement; composite door; french door sets; and a patio door may be manufactured by combining existing profiles with the Optima suite. Performance is to A++ Window Energy Rating.

The Profile 22 system that Optima replaces enjoyed huge popularity for its aesthetics and Optima retains a close similarity, but with a larger rebate and stylish slim upstand. The distinctiveness enjoyed by Profile 22 over other systems will therefore continue.

The real difference however is in the details: the system is designed with a high performance centre seal option for improved weather and thermal performance, features that are unique to Optima amongst UK systems; deeper drainage channels further improve water egress and contribute towards weather performance.

Optima has been designed to offer the widest choice of glazing options on the market including 24 and 28mm double and 36, 40 and 44mm triple glazed units. Bead location has been fully researched with the result that glazing clips are unnecessary to pass security tests and are future-proof against proposed and anticipated enhancements to PAS24.

The systems have been awarded the British Standard Kitemark which includes testing to BS6375 parts 1, 2 & 3, Performance of windows and doors in addition to testing in relation to PAS24:2016 enhanced security performance requirements for doorsets and windows in the UK. Both standards are the latest to be published and allow specifiers to assess Optima against the most exacting UK standards currently available.

Products are also manufactured under Environmental and Health & Safety standards BS EN ISO 14001 and BS EN ISO 18001 respectively and BES6001 to ensure Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products. The Optima systems far surpass UK and EU Building Regulations and PAS24, and have the highly accredited Secured by Design approval. In short Optima is the most accredited window system available in the UK market today.

The increased demand in the window market for colour and woodgrain has been acknowledged with an increased stock and fast turnaround of special colour options. The Optima foil offer is superior to that of any other systems supplier boasting 28 colour options. The range of greys competes well with aluminium products.

Andrew Reid, Commercial Sales Director of Profile 22 says: “We wanted the new window systems to be the best in the market and represent innovative design and exceptional thermal performance. We designed the new products around the needs of the specifier for slim, modern and stylish aesthetics, whilst offering the most technologically advanced product features and performance capabilities to future-proof our product range in meeting future Building Regulations.

“To achieve this we have invested in the most advanced extrusion systems available today. This investment ensures consistently excellent window and door profile quality whilst also significantly reducing the environmental impact of the production process. This is a key element in the specification of modern window and door products,” added Andrew.

“Specifiers can include Optima knowing that they are choosing the most advanced window and door products available in the UK today with key benefits of exceptional thermal performance, reduced maintenance schedules and improved durability. Their clients will also enjoy the benefits of excellent design, greater comfort levels and security as well as reduced heating bills for tenants and homeowners alike.”

Those wanting to appreciate Optima are encouraged to visit the Profile 22 microsite www.profile22.co.uk/optima, the showroom in Telford or at the Building Centre, London.
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Repairs, refurbishment and water ingress by the sea

Stuart Hicks, from cold liquid-applied waterproofing specialist, Kemper System, discusses how a change of membrane addressed failing waterproofing at a luxury residential development in Saltdean, near Brighton.

The Grand Ocean Hotel in Saltdean, near Brighton, epitomises a bygone era of glamourous seaside elegance. First opened in 1938, the Grade II listed building’s crescent-shaped white façade makes it a classic of Art Deco architectural design.

Once a popular honeymoon destination owned by Billy Butlin it is now the central building from which a development of luxury apartments takes its name. The scheme has seen the refurbishment of the original structure and construction of four new build blocks designed in keeping with the former hotel.

Problems with the integrity of the waterproofing system that was originally specified for the project became apparent even before the scheme was completed, leading to a change of both roofing contractor and, eventually, roofing system.

Integrity Issues

Both the existing hotel building and the new builds have flat roofs and architect, Rolfe Judd, had specified a liquid waterproofing membrane. Unfortunately, the system selected was not robust enough to adhere seamlessly to the roof substrate and the assumption was made that the issue lay with the quality of installation rather than the suitability of the membrane.

A new roofing contractor, Cawston Roofing, was brought in to carry out repairs to the membrane but, as the existing roof build up was still under warranty, Cawston Roofing was required to carry out repairs using the same product.

The majority of the problems with the roofing material were around the upstands. While repairs using the same membrane seemed to address the issue briefly, the same issues recurred following the repairs.

Inverted Refurbishment

Having used Kemper Systems’ Kemperol membranes on a wide variety of construction projects in the past, Cawston Roofing was confident in recommending Kemperol V210, a cold liquid-applied waterproofing membrane.

The originally-specified membrane had been installed beneath the insulation as an inverted roof build up for the new apartment blocks. Cawston Roofing removed the paving slabs and green roof medium along with the insulation and, where possible, this was stored for re-use.

The company then prepared and cleaned the roof surface and, in the areas around the upstands where the failed membrane had not bonded, the team pulled off the damaged membrane.
The existing insulation, slabs and green roof medium were then reinstated to complete the roof.

Hotel Roof

The damage caused by the failed waterproofing membrane on the roof and balconies of the former hotel building was even more significant because the original roof build-up was not inverted.
The balconies were tackled first, with strip out of the entire roof build-up. Here, not only had the originally-specified membrane failed, but the insulation below it had begun to rot too.

Having completed the strip out, Cawston Roofing allowed the concrete substrate to dry on each balcony and the decision was taken to reinstate the build-up for each balcony as an inverted warm roof.

New insulation had to be cut to size and shape and this was done while the Kemperol V210 membrane was being installed so that the balconies could be completed as quickly as possible.

The team then moved onto the 8,500m2 former hotel roof, which comprises five ‘fingers’ with a central core. Water ingress around the roof outlets meant that the recently installed warm roof insulation was already sodden and the roof had to be stripped back to the vapour barrier.

To aid water run-off in the future, Kemper System designed a tapered Kempertherm insulation scheme, introducing a slight pitch to each section of roof. Cawston Roofing pre-primed each piece of board in an on-site workshop during the winter months to aid faster installation once the weather improved.

When weather conditions did improve, the Kempertherm sections were fixed to the substrate and joint sealed before application of the Kemperol V210 membrane began.

Holiday Heritage

Thanks to the replacement of the originally-specified waterproofing system with Kemperol V210, the building not only provides a stylish address on the coast that is warm and dry for residents but also protects a slice of the UK’s holiday making heritage and an iconic listed building.

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Bright young things

Juliet Woodcock looks at the latest innovations in the built environment from around the world.

Tom Robinson, founder of Adaptavate, has been named the Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year, winning £30,000 in start-up funding for his invention Breathaboard, a plant-based alternative to plasterboard that locks CO2 into buildings.

A builder originally, Tom’s intention is to create a moisture absorbing board that will facilitate what he describes as “healthier people in healthier homes.” His invention is 75% bio-based and the remainder a mineral-binder – non-cementitious – so at the end of its life, Breathaboard is 100% compostable.

Tom explained to R&R: “We are trying to create a board that is a fundamental shift in the way we make materials that will grow into the materials of the future; but what is really important to me is that we’re trying to address the issue of moisture in buildings – that will be the main selling point.”

Financial backing for R&D is in place; as is funding with Bath University to quantify the performance of the product, while Tom is in the process of gaining accreditations such as the BRE Green Guide Rating, but as he reveals, this is a lengthy process – still being at the design stage for the factory to produce the board. The only results back at this early stage of testing is for thermal conductivity, which is half that of traditional plasterboard at 0.089 W/mK.

Meanwhile in Italy, an Italian construction firm has developed a ‘biodynamic’ mortar that is able to remove pollutants from the air automatically. The mortar, which is made from recycled scraps of marble and left over aggregate, absorbs nitrogen oxide and sulphur pollution and converts it into harmless salts. It uses a titanium catalyst that is activated by ultraviolet light to drive the chemical reaction. The salts then wash off the walls when it rains. It has already been used to create a building in Milan called the Palazzo Italia, which was completed for the World Fair in the city in 2015.

Looking further north, researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm have developed a transparent wood material that could change the way we construct buildings and solar panels, as well as make glass windows a thing of the past.

The new material is suitable for mass production, the researchers say, and is a low-cost renewable resource. To create the transparent wood, researchers chemically removed lignin from samples of commercial balsa wood. Lignin being a structural polymer in plants and can be found in the cell walls, blocking 80 to 95 percent of light from passing through.

This alone, however, didn’t result in creating a transparent material.

Removing lignin makes the wood white, so researchers added added acrylic to the wood to allow light to pass through.

Cement is still one of the most widely used materials in construction, but also one of the largest contributors to harmful carbon emissions, said to be responsible for around 7 per cent of annual global emissions. Researchers at Bath University, meanwhile, are trying to overcome the problem of cracking in concrete, by developing a self-healing mix; containing bacteria within microcapsules, which will germinate when water enters a crack in the matrix. This will produce limestone, plugging the crack before water and oxygen has a chance to corrode the steel reinforcement.

Kinetic energy is another area of science under the microscope; with Pavegen creating a “transponder” type technology that enables flooring to harness the energy of footsteps. It can be used indoors or outdoors in high traffic areas, and generates electricity from pedestrian footfall using an electromagnetic induction process and flywheel energy storage. The technology is best suited to transport hubs where a large flow of people will pass over it.

Who knows what our bright young things will invent next? However if we can’t halt the slide in education standards – especially for mathematics and science – and bring on a new generation of inventors as well as savvy building professionals, we may find that we not simply dealing with a skills shortage, but a chasm our industry cannot climb out of.

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Appy Omes

With the advent of BIM and the apps that have been created on the back of it having received extensive attention in recent times, Juliet Woodcock reports on some other apps available to the built environment.

After reading the paper recently, I was intrigued to discover that an app has been launched that predicts birth control/fertility; while you can get an app for deciding what to wear and there are a range of apps for dieting, health and lifestyle. While many people now take these as being a part of their daily lives, I decided to see what is out there for the construction industry, apart from the numerous BIM apps available.

The Dulux Visualizer App is absolutely brilliant: it lets you take a picture of a wall in your home, and then select colours to see how they suit the space. The strapline “Picture it before you paint it” describes this app well, which is intended to be used by professional decorators as well as DIYers – plus it suggests colour schemes to compliment “the look”. This app also offers Dulux Master classes through video demonstrations, as well as the company’s nearest Dulux Tailor Made Colour stockists.

While most of us will be aware that apps have been around for some while to control one’s heating and hot water at home – which also help save energy – Mitsubishi Electrics has taken this technology one step further with its new MELCloud, a new generation of Cloud based control for Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning, Ecodan Heating, ventilation and controls. MELCloud provides users with effortless control of their devices whether they are out or are just resting on their sofa at home.

Mitsubishi Electrics has also launched ME Engineer, which it describes as the next generation of service information tailored specifically for mobile users. ME Engineer provides installers and service engineers of Mitsubishi Electric air conditioning, heating, ventilation and control products easy access to the most up to date and detailed service information direct from in-house technical experts at Mitsubishi Electric.

Cosmetic repair specialist for the construction industry, Plastic Surgeon, has developed an app called the Snag Reporter, which enables the user to report any snagging issues or defects from a housing or construction project. This app
 provides the ability to set up a site location, individual plot locations and then the various spaces such as landings, bedrooms, kitchens etc. You can then record the snag/defect by selecting the type of damage, the item damaged and the size of area affected. If required you can also take photos and annotate those images directly from your smart phone.
All this information is then compiled in a user-friendly PDF and sent directly to Plastic Surgeon, who can then quote for the repair work required.

In March of this year, Kingspan Insulation launched an app to calculate U-values, whereby the user can easily vary everything from rafter depth to masonry thickness. This makes it simple to find the right insulation product and thickness for a desired floor, wall or roof U-value. It is suitable for use with the Building Regulations/Standards and covers Kingspan OPTIM-R vacuum insulation, Kingspan TEK Building System and new, lower-lambda, Kingspan Kooltherm K106 and K108 Cavity Board.

All U-values within the application have been pre-calculated by a member of Kingspan Insulation’s Technical Services Department who is approved under the ‘BBA/TIMSA Scheme for Calculation Competency Part 1 – U-value and condensation risk’. Where appropriate, these calculations also take into account fixings and bridging factors.

Metsä Wood, meanwhile, is a well-established supplier of timber and timber-based building systems and solutions for the construction industry. Its Finnframe app has been specifically designed to aid site managers and tradesmen access a quick and easy mobile guide to joist and floor installation when using Finnframe flooring system products, providing static drawings of design details and animated sequences demonstrating the correct installation procedure – thus avoiding error. This information is currently provided in the form of technical drawings on the reverse of detailed site plans. This guidance may not be readily to hand for all contractors, so the app offers immediate on-the-spot information.

Then there are home security apps: forming part of Yale’s Easy Fit range, the SmartPhone Alarm takes home security to the next level. Using the accompanying free app, the alarm can be activated, deactivated, monitored or programmed. Once the alarm has been triggered, an external siren will sound to alert the presence of an intruder, as well as sending an email and push notification (iOS only) to communicate the situation to the property owner.

Seconds after the alarm sounds, the smartphone can receive images captured on the wall-mounted PIR device to show the cause of the trigger.

Amazingly, there is even an app that allows anyone to do a quick, visual check, to ensure the home is electrically safe. The Home Electrical Safety Check app, developed by the Electrical Safety Council, enables the user to set up lists of items that need attention for multiple properties, which can be emailed as lists to your contacts from within the app. The also enables you to find local registered electricians by searching the Electrical Safety Register database.

At a cost of just 54 pence, the Smoke Alarm Messenger sends a SMS or email to a person of your choice when a smoke detector in your property sounds. Its main aim is to inform your loved ones you’re probably at risk so they can help you. This is ideal for the hard of hearing, as a third party can be informed.

Controlfacts from Aico covers all the key information you need for Aico’s RadioLINK Alarm Controller – which allows you to control your Aico Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms from one convenient location. As Aico says, “One button, no wires, simple.” The app shows the different functions of the Alarm Controller – how to test your alarms, what happens if a smoke alarm sounds and what happens if a Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm sounds.

In these worrying times – especially for women – I could not finish this article without mentioning personal safety apps, which I had not come across before, and which I must share because it might just keep a reader safe. Tens of thousands of people around the world are now using a free personal-safety mobile app that allows friends to virtually walk you home at night. The Companion app, created by five students from the University of Michigan, enables users to request a friend or family member to keep them company virtually and track their journey home via GPS on an online map.

Although they can do so, the friend or family member does not need to have the Companion app installed, which is available for both Android and iOS. The user can send out several requests to different phone contacts in case people are not available to be a companion or not with their phones at the time.

Those contacted receive an SMS text message with a hyperlink in it that sends them to a web page with an interactive map showing the user walking to their destination. If the user strays off their path, falls, is pushed, starts running or has their headphones yanked out of their phone, the app detects these changes in movements and asks the user if they’re OK.

If the user is fine, they press a button on the app to confirm within 15 seconds. If they do not press the button, or a real emergency is occurring, the Companion app transforms the user’s phone into a personal alarm system that projects loud noises to scare criminals from the scene, and gives you the option to instantly call the police. Here is a link to download Companion: http://companionapp.io

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